Royston man to participate in UK firefighters charity match at Saracens RFC

A Royston firefighter will take to the hallowed turf of Aviva Premiership side Saracens in the first of two charity matches at Allianz Park on Thursday, October 15.

Steve Greaves will represent England in their tussle with the Welsh fire service in what can only be described as a grudge match.

In Liverpool last November, the Welsh prevailed by five points.

Following the fire service clash, 2003 Rugby World Cup winning England trio Jason Robinson, Mike Tindall and Lewis Moody will take to the field with The World XV throwing the likes of Irelands Gordon Murphy, South Africa’s Tinus Delport, Samoan Freddie Tuilagi and French hero Serge Betsen into the mix.

Both matches are raising money for MND (Motor Neurons Disease) supported by the J9 Foundation, set up by ex-South African International Scrum Half and MND sufferer, Joost Van der Westhuizen and The Matt Hampson Foundation.

Hampson, a former England U21 and Leicester Tigers prop is now wheelchair bound, paralysed from the neck down and breathing through a ventilator, after suffering a serious neck injury during training. His charity supports those seriously injured through sport.

Six other Hertfordshire-based firefighters, Mark Burgess and Joe Shaw (Letchworth RFC), Stuart Wilkins and James Watt (Datchworth RFC) and Andy Applegarth (Biggleswade RFC), will don the white and red of the home nation.

One ticket gives you admittance to both games. Tickets can be purchased via Saracens Ticket Office on 0844 847 1876 or https://www.eticketing.co.uk/saracens